Coin-detector.



PATENTED DEC. 4, 1906.

H. G. KELLOGG.

COIN DETECTOR.

APPLIUATION FILED Nov. zo. 1905.

HOMER G. KELLOGG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COIN-DETECTR.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1906.

Application filed November 20. 1905. Serial No. 288.149

l'o au whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HOMER G. KELLOGG, a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Detectors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to coin-detectors* c'. e., devices usually associated with coin or check controlled apparatus for preventing fraud by eliminating a bogus coin or slug while disposing the genuine coin into position to operate or control a device or apparatus.

It has heretofore been common in fraudprevention devices to effect separation of the bogus tokens from the genuine by testing the material and by size and weight testers. Owing to the substantial sameness of the specific gravit of metals from which genuine coins an( bogus coins are sometimes made-e. g., brass and bronze-the weighttester has not been generally adopted in practice. Furthermore, weight-testers cannot be advantageously applied to all devices. The size-testers which eliminate the bogus tokens by reason of disparity in diameter or thickness of coins and slugs have been found to be ineffective, because dies for cutting or punching sheet metal of thickness corresponding to genuine coins can usually be found, and many frauds are committed by punchings which correspond substantially in diameter, thickness, and weight to a genuine coin.

In practice it has been found that nearly all bogus tokens or slugs consist of disks or washers punched from a sheet or plate of metal. All punchings have one slightly rounded or inclined edge portion or face and a bur on the other edge or face. The bur can be removed by abrasion, but the slightlyrounded edge or face is always present in a slug made by a punch or l) f a similar tool. The invention utilizes this c iaracteristic of a slug to eifect elimination or detection of a bogus coin or slug, and, broadly considered, the invention consists in providing a device which eliminates or detects all coins or slugs possessing this characteristic.

Another feature of the invention consists in associating with the means for eliminating punchings means for removing tokens responsive to magnetic influences and those materially less in diameter than coins.

The invention further designs to provide an improved coin-detector; and it consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth, and more particularly deiined by the claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a coin-detector embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1, showing a slug which will be disposed from the guide in position thereon. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a trulyformed coin or token on the guide. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the connection between the reversely-inclined guides and whereby the tokens are inverted. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are views, on an enlarged scale, illustrating some of the forms of slugs which will be eliminated by the detector.

The coin-detector is usually arranged within a suitable case or inclosure, such as a case 10, and comprises an angular guide 11, into which the coins pass when inserted through a coin-receiving slot 12. The angular guide 11 is arranged to conduct the tokens into position adjacent a magnet 13, which causes slugs made of metal res onsive to magnetic influence to be directed aterally from channel l1. Tokens not removed by the magnet are discharged across a gap 14 onto an inclined uide 15. The angular guide 11 causes t 1e coin to be properly delivered from its lower end with uniform force and checks the velocity of the token to bring the token within the influence of the magnet. 16 and an arm 17, suspended from a pivot 1S, prevent the tokens from bounding away from the guide 15 and direct the tokens so they will pass onto guide 15. A wall 19, arranged at one side of the dog, prevents the coin from being discharged laterally from the guide 15 after the coin has passed over the gap 14. Guide 15 is inclined longitudinally to cause a coin to gravitate therealong and inclined transversely to cause the edge of the coin to engage a sli ht rib or projection 20,

IOO

which extends longitudinally of said guide. j

This rib or projection acts as a retainer whereby a truly-formed coin or check (see Fig. 5) will be held on the guide 15 and which will not retain a slug having a curved or bent edge portion-e. g., a punching-so that such slugs will be displaced from the guide 15 and disposed differently from the truly-formed coins or tokens and removed from the guide, so thecoin-controlled appa- .will not Vbe held b ratus or device will not be affected or operated by said slugs.

The low'er portion 11 of the guide 11 is inclined transversely, so the coins and slugs will be discharged at the proper angle to pass Onto guide 15. A truly-formed coin or token is usua-ll ilat and formed with a rim which is true, being so formed by the iinishing-dies which impress the face or faces of the coin or token, although it may have been imperfectly formed or dished when cut in a punch-press. When finished by impression-dies having a design, the coin or token is substantially fiat and true. Bogus coins or slugs consist in most instances of disks formed in a punchpress and not subjected to 'finishing-dies, an resultantly, the bogus coins or slugs possess the characteristic of a punching and are slightly dished, as shown in Fig. 9, or provided with a curved or inclined edge portion, such as is shown in Fig. 8, and a sharp edge or bur. The retainer 20 is of such form that it will not hold -such slugs. This result is accomplished by directing the tokens toward the retainer, which will direct a truly-formed coin or check into the disired path, but will not retain a slug having an inclined or curved edge portion or face', because the retainer is so slight in depth that the edge of such a slug will ride over the retainer and cause the slug to fall laterally and to be removed from the guide which directs a truly-formed token into position to effect the operationof a coin or check controlled device or apparatus.

Manifestly when slu s having the aforesaid characteristic are deposited so that the face adjacent the sharp edge or bur will enga e the uide 15 (see Fig. 2) the retainer wil not e iminate the slug. The tokens are passed over a reversely-inclined guide 21, having a retainer 22 similar in construction to the retainer 20, and are inverted in transit from the guide 15 to the reversely-inclined guide 21 by a curved channel 23, and thereore if a slug is edge portion thereof will not cause it to be discharged laterally from guide 15Mr the other face of the slug will engage guide "21, so the curved edge portion of the slu will` be brought adjacent the guide 21 and the slug retainer 22, but will be discharged latera ly from the guide 20. Therefore the reversely-inclined guides and means for inverting the tokens subject the slugs to the pro er test so that the curved edge portion Wi either on one guide or another cause the slugs to be eliminated. The lower ends of guide 21 and retainer 22 are formed to direct a coin into a suitable channel 24, which leads to the coin-controlled apparatus or device.V A dog 25,' pivotally sustained at 26, causes the tokens discharged from the guide 15 to be properly directed onto guide 21 and prevents the tokens from ounding away om the guide. Guides 15 deposited so that the curved 'the retainer,

and 21 are respectively cut away, as at 27, so

that a coin or slug materially less in diameter than the coins for which the detector is designed will fall therethrough and be discharged irom the guides. Some washers which are deposited into a machine are so slightly dished permit the washer to pass over the retainer. In order to prevent such washer from being discharged onto guide 21, a spear or rod 29 has its terminal extended into such osition adjacent the inverting channel 23 t at the washer will pass onto the spear and will be removed from the channel, as seen in Fig, 7. It will be understood that the coin-guides and channels are secured in proper relative and operative position by suitable means, the same being shown in the drawings as being secured to one of the walls of the inclosing casing. Rejected slugs may be returned, if desired.

The seemingly-slight curvature of the edge portion of the slug is found in practice to be of great importance in eliminating or detecting the slugs, since it has been found that a that the edge thereof will notv disk or token not cut or punched in a press is y usually so irregular that the slug will usually fail to pass the diameter test, and others will be eliminated by the magnet, and by elimination of the slugs having the characteristic of a punching the detector is rendered most effective in use. The bur on one side can be removed by filing or abrasion; but in order to remove the curved edge portion it is necessary to file away considerable portion oi.' the body of the disk, which requires so much time that in some instances the cost of the production of a slug which will not be eliminated 'by the improved device would be greater than the value of a coin. A further advantage of the invention is that it does not reject a coin which is worn, because the wear generally occurs on the face and leaves the periphery substantially cylindrical, so that which causes the removal of slugs, is sufficient to retain a coin despite the W ear.

Manifestly the invention is not to be understood as restricted to the particular embodiment shown and described, but may be by the skilled from the spirit modified Within wide limits mechanic without departing and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a coin-detector, means Jr'or discharging in one direction a slug having a curved or inclined edge portion or face, and for discharging in another direction a truly-formed coin or token.

2. In a coin-detector, an inclined receiving-guide, and means thereon for directing in one direction a truly-formed coin or token, and for discharging Jfrom said guide in an- IOO other direction a slug having a curved or inclined edge portion or face.

3. In a coin-detector, a plurality of guides, means for directing the coins or tokens to bring the opposite faces thereof successively on said guides, and means for discharging in one direction a slug having a curved o1' inclined edge portion or face, and for discharging in another direction a truly-formed coin or token.

4. In a coin-detector, a plurality of reversely-inclined guides, means for directing the coins or tokens to bring the opposite faces thereof successively in said guides, and means for discharging in one direction a slug having a curved or inclined edge portion or face, and for discharging in another direction a trulyformed coin or token.

5. In a coin-detector, a plurality of reversely-inclined guides, means for inverting a coin or token in transit from one guide to another, and means for retaining on said guides a truly-formed coin or token, and for discharging from said guides a slug having a bent or inclined edge portion or face.

6. In a coin-detector, a longitudinally and transversely inclined guide, and a retainer against which the coins or tokens Will be directed by said guide, said retainer being .formed to direct a truly-formed coin or token along said guide, andA to discharge from said guide a slug having a curved or inclined edge portion or face.

7. In a coin-detector, a plurality of guides each transversely inclined and reversely inclined longitudinally to one another, means for directing a coin or token so that it Will be inverted in transit from 011e guide to another, and a retainer for each guide formed to direct a truly-formed coin or token along the guide, and to discharge therefrom a slug having a curved or inclined edge portion or face.

8. In a coin-detector, an inclined guide, means for directing. along the guide a trulyformed coin or token and for discharging therefrom a slug having a curved or inclined edge portion or face, and means for directing onto the guide a coin or token so that the same Will rest snugly thereon.

9. In a coin-detector, a plurality of reversely-inclined guides, means for inverting a coin or token in transit from one guide` to another, and means arranged in relation to said guides to engage the aperture in an apertured token during its passage from one guide to another.

HOMER G. KELLOGG.

Witnesses:

WM. H. JAY, FRED GERLACH. 

